Cathedral of Christ the King (Atlanta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Christ the King |
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| Catedral de Cristo Rey (Spanish) | |
Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| 33°49′41.09″N 84°23′13.023″W / 33.8280806°N 84.38695083°W | |
| Location | Atlanta, GA |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English (primary), Spanish (select events & masses) |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Membership | ~5,700 registered families |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Co-Cathedral of Christ the King (1939-1956, until Diocese of Savannah and Atlanta split) |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder(s) | First Pastor, Fr. Joseph E. Moylan |
| Consecrated | 1939 |
| Past bishop(s) | Wilton Daniel Gregory (2004-2019), elevated to Cardinal |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Henry D. Dagit, Jr. |
| Style | French Neo-Gothic |
| Years built | 1937-1939 |
| Groundbreaking | 1937 |
| Completed | 1939 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 700 |
| Number of spires | 2 |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Atlanta |
| Metropolis | Atlanta |
The Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Georgia is a very important Catholic church. It is the main church for over one million Catholic members in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The cathedral is located in a busy area of Atlanta called "Jesus Junction" in the Buckhead district.
Today, the church is one of the ten largest Catholic communities in the United States. It serves more than 5,500 families. Christ the King School is also on the property. About 600 students attend the school.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How the Parish Started
The Christ the King church community began in 1936. The church bought about four acres of land for $35,000. At first, church services were held in a large house on the property. To build the beautiful cathedral you see today, this old house was taken down. The church also bought more land next to it.
Building the Cathedral
The church building was designed by an architect named Henry D. Dagit, Jr. He used a style called French Neo-Gothic. This style looks like old European cathedrals. Inside, you can also see touches of Art Deco design. This is especially true on the stone reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar.
The amazing stained glass windows were made by Willet Stained Glass Studios. They were carefully restored in 2015-2016. In 1939, a magazine called Architectural Record said it was the "Most Beautiful Building in Atlanta."
Becoming a Cathedral
On January 5, 1937, Pope Pius XI made an important change. He announced that the Diocese of Savannah would now be called the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. A diocese is a church area led by a bishop. Because of this change, Christ the King church became a "Co-Cathedral." This meant it shared the title with the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.
Later, on July 2, 1956, Pope Pius XII split the Savannah-Atlanta Diocese. He created a new Diocese of Atlanta. At this point, Christ the King became the only cathedral for the new diocese. Francis Edward Hyland became its first bishop.
The Christ the King School
Construction for the school started in 1936. The school opened on October 31, 1937. It was managed by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart. Bishop Gerald O'Hara blessed the school when it opened. In 1940, the school added a high school program. This program ran until 1958. High school students then moved to the new St. Pius X Catholic High School.
Challenges During the Pandemic
Like many churches around the world, the Cathedral faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They had to cancel many services and Masses for a few months. Other activities, like the youth choir, were paused for even longer.
Church Services
The Cathedral of Christ the King holds many church services throughout the week. These include Masses on Sundays and weekdays. They also have special services during important times like Lent and Holy Week. For example, during Lent, they offer "Stations of the Cross." During Holy Week, there are special Masses and prayer services leading up to Easter.
Community Ministries
As a large and important church, the Cathedral offers many groups and activities. These groups are called ministries. They help people of all ages get involved in the church community.
Here are some of the ministries offered:
- For Children:
- Sports programs like soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
- Altar Serving, where kids help during church services.
- Children's Choirs for singing.
- For Adults:
- Groups for young adults (20/30 Somethings).
- Bible Study and Rosary groups.
- Clubs for women and men.
- The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization.
- For Liturgy (Church Services):
- Flower Guild, which decorates the church.
- Lectors, who read from the Bible during Mass.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, who help distribute communion.
- Ushers, who welcome people and help them find seats.
- Choirs:
- The main Cathedral Choir.
- School Nova Choir and Cathedral Evening Ensemble Choir.
- Hispanic Choir and choirs for middle school boys and girls.
- Outreach (Helping Others):
- Funeral Ministry, supporting families during difficult times.
- Teams that make sandwich and snack bags for those in need.
- Baking Team, providing baked goods for various events.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps people facing poverty.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Cristo Rey (Atlanta) para niños
